Morphological phenotyping of the aging cochlea in inbred C57BL/6N and outbred CD1 mouse strains.

Morphological mouse phenotyping plays a pivotal role in the translational setting and even more in the area of auditory research, where mouse is a central model organism due to the evolutionary genetic relationship and morpho-functional analogies with the human auditory system. However, some results obtained in murine models cannot be translated to humans due to the inadequate description of experimental conditions underlying poor reproducibility. We approach the characterization of the aging process of the mouse cochlea in animals up to 18 months of age belonging to two of the most used outbred (CD1) and inbred (C57BL/6N) strains.

Immunolocalization of Two Neurotrophins, NGF and BDNF, in the Pancreas of the South American Sea Lion and Bottlenose Dolphin .

In this study, we have investigated the immunolocalization of NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) and BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) in the pancreas of two species of marine mammals: (common bottlenose dolphin), belonging to the order of the Artiodactyla, and (South American sea lion), belonging to the order of the Carnivora. Our results demonstrated a significant presence of NGF and BDNF in the pancreas of both species with a wide distribution pattern observed in the exocrine and endocrine components. We identified some differences that can be attributed to the different feeding habits of the two species, which possess a different morphological organization of the digestive system.

Resistin in endocrine pancreas of sheep: Presence and expression related to different diets.

Resistin (RETN), a recently discovered adipokine, is a cysteine-rich and secretory protein produced by adipocytes. RETN has been detected in several tissues, including human and laboratory animals' pancreas, wherein impairs glucose tolerance and insulin (INS) action and causes INS resistance. This study aims to evaluate the presence and expression of RETN in the pancreas of 15 adult female sheep reared on Apennine pastures, which show a decrease in their nutritional value due to the drought stress linked to the increasing summer aridity.

Balancing risks and benefits of cannabis use: umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and observational studies.

Objective: To systematically assess credibility and certainty of associations between cannabis, cannabinoids, and cannabis based medicines and human health, from observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Design: Umbrella review.

Data Sources: PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase, up to 9 February 2022.

Towards a More Realistic In Vitro Meat: The Cross Talk between Adipose and Muscle Cells.

According to statistics and future predictions, meat consumption will increase in the coming years. Considering both the environmental impact of intensive livestock farming and the importance of protecting animal welfare, the necessity of finding alternative strategies to satisfy the growing meat demand is compelling. Biotechnologies are responding to this demand by developing new strategies for producing meat in vitro.

Monitoring of Alarm Reactions of Red Deer () in a Captive Population in Paneveggio Pale di San Martino Natural Park.

The study analyzes red deer responses to disturbances during the day and different exposures to tourists, to establish the more appropriate times to carry out activities inside the Paneveggio deer enclosure. The alarm reactions of red deer were observed after presenting different types of visual stimuli inside and outside the fence, in order to answer some questions: Which stimuli produce the strongest reactions from the animals? Do animals differently react to stimuli presented outside and inside the fence? On which days and times are the animals more sensitive to disturbances? Are there different reactions between the males and females? The results suggest that the red deer adversely react to the disturbance at different degrees of intensity in relation to day, sex, tourist and where the stimuli are presented. It was observed that during the days with the highest tourist presence, the animals were particularly alarmed; discomfort accumulation produced the highest number of alarm reactions on Monday.

Immunohistochemical and Physiological Research on Farm Animals.

This Special Issue "Immunohistochemical and Physiological Research on Farm Animals" is dedicated to the application of immunohistochemical and physiological studies carried out on farm animals, including traditional (pig, cow, buffalo, horse, sheep, goat, rabbit, turkey and trout) and emerging farm species (yak, sea bass and zebrafish) [...

A Morphological and Ultrastructural Study of the Anterior Digestive Tract of Adult Nile Tilapia .

Among the most-used fish species in aquaculture is the Nile tilapia, due to its rapid growth rate and its adaptation to a wide range of farming conditions. A careful description of the morphology of the digestive tract, particularly the esophagus and stomach, allows a better understanding of the relationship between structure and function. Combining scanning and light microscopy we highlighted the presence of five different zones in the stomach (1: esophagus-gastric lumen passage; 2: descending glandular portion; 3: fundic portion; 4: ascending glandular portion; 5: gastric-pyloric transition portion).

Leptin system is not affected by different diets in the abomasum of the sheep reared in semi-natural pastures of the Central Apennines.

The growing summer drought stress is affecting the nutritional value of pastures, no longer sufficient to support the nutritional status of sheep in extensive rearing. Adipokines affect organ and tissue functionality can be useful to evaluate animal welfare and prompt an improvement in the management of the grazing animals. Leptin (Lep) is an adipokine mainly produced by adipose tissue that regulates food intake by an anorexigenic action.

A machine learning approach on whole blood immunomarkers to identify an inflammation-associated psychosis onset subgroup.

Psychosis onset is a transdiagnostic event that leads to a range of psychiatric disorders, which are currently diagnosed through clinical observation. The integration of multimodal biological data could reveal different subtypes of psychosis onset to target for the personalization of care. In this study, we tested the existence of subgroups of patients affected by first-episode psychosis (FEP) with a possible immunopathogenic basis.

Incidental findings on brain MRI in patients with first-episode and chronic psychosis.

Brain incidental findings (IFs) are unexpected brain abnormalities detected by a structural magnetic resonance (MRI) examination. We conducted a study to assess whether brain IFs are associated with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and chronic psychosis (affective vs. non-affective) compared to healthy controls (HC).

Immunolocalization of Nesfatin-1 in the Gastrointestinal Tract of the Common Bottlenose Dolphin .

First identified as an anorexigenic peptide, in the last decades, several studies have suggested that Nesfatin-1 (Nesf-1) is a pleiotropic hormone implicated in numerous regulatory processes in peripheral organs and tissues. In vertebrates, Nesf-1 is indeed expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral organs. In this study, we characterized the pattern of Nesf-1 distribution within the digestive tract of the common bottlenose dolphin (), composed of three gastric chambers and an intestine without a clear subdivision in the small and large intestine, also lacking a caecum.

Language production impairments in patients with a first episode of psychosis.

Language production has often been described as impaired in psychiatric diseases such as in psychosis. Nevertheless, little is known about the characteristics of linguistic difficulties and their relation with other cognitive domains in patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP), either affective or non-affective. To deepen our comprehension of linguistic profile in FEP, 133 patients with FEP (95 non-affective, FEP-NA; 38 affective, FEP-A) and 133 healthy controls (HC) were assessed with a narrative discourse task.

Transition from child and adolescent mental health care to adult services for young people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Europe: Barriers and recommendations.

Transition in mental health care is the process ensuring continuity of care of a young patient arriving at the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) age boundary within mental health services. Transition refers to a transfer to an adult mental health service (AMHS), to private care or other mental health community services. A transition plan can also lead to a managed end of specialized care with involvement of a general practitioner or social services.

Demographic, clinical, and service-use characteristics related to the clinician's recommendation to transition from child to adult mental health services.

Purpose: The service configuration with distinct child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) may be a barrier to continuity of care. Because of a lack of transition policy, CAMHS clinicians have to decide whether and when a young person should transition to AMHS. This study describes which characteristics are associated with the clinicians' advice to continue treatment at AMHS.

The Apelinergic System Immuno-Detection in the Abomasum and Duodenum of Sheep Grazing on Semi-Natural Pasture.

Apelin (APLN) is an adipokine mainly produced by adipose tissue and related to an individual's nutritional status as well as digestive apparatus functions. In this work, APLN and its receptor (APLNR) were investigated, by immunohistochemistry, in the abomasum and duodenum of 15 Comisana × Appenninica adult sheep reared in a semi-natural pasture. Organ samples were collected after maximum pasture flowering (M × F group) and after maximum pasture dryness (M × D group); the experimental group (E × p group) received a feed supplementation of 600 grams/day/head of barley and corn in addition to M × D group feeding.

Shape Analysis as an Additional Tool in Roe Deer () Management: A New Approach Based on the Relationship between Mandible Shape and Trophic Resources.

The analysis of body shape variability has always been a central element in biology. More recently, geometric morphometry has developed as a new field in shape analysis, with the aim to study body morphological variations and the identification of their causes. In wildlife management, geometric morphometry could be a useful tool to compare the anatomical structures of an organism and quantify its geometric information in order to relate them to environmental factors, thus identifying the causes and effects of the variation and acting management and/or conservation plans.

Effects of Feed Supplementation on Nesfatin-1, Insulin, Glucagon, Leptin, T3, Cortisol, and BCS in Milking Ewes Grazing on Semi-Natural Pastures.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of feed supplementation on body condition score (BCS) and different metabolic hormones concentration in lactating sheep reared in Italian Central Apennine pastures during the grazing summer period. In this study, 24 Comisana x Appenninica pluriparous ewes from June until August were divided into two homogenous groups: the control group (UNS) was free to graze, while the other group (SUP), in addition to grazing, was supplemented with 600 g/day/head of cereals. At the start of the supplementation and at an interval of 9-10 days until the end of experimentation, BCS evaluation and blood withdrawal to assay nesfatin-1, insulin, glucagon, leptin, triiodothyronine and cortisol levels were performed.

Distinct Pattern of NPY in Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic System of Goat Kids Fed with a New Standardized Red Orange and Lemon Extract (RLE).

The use of natural compounds as feed additive is also increasing in farm animals, thanks to the beneficial effect on both animals and consumers health. Here, we questioned whether natural extracts, such as red orange and lemon extract (RLE) rich in flavanones, anthocyanins, and other polyphenols, used as feed additives could display an effect on the neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the gastro-entero-pancreatic tract of goat kids. NPY is one of the most abundant neuropeptides in mammals, known for its orexigenic role although it is involved in many central and peripheral functions.

Classification of Psychoses Based on Immunological Features: A Machine Learning Study in a Large Cohort of First-Episode and Chronic Patients.

For several years, the role of immune system in the pathophysiology of psychosis has been well-recognized, showing differences from the onset to chronic phases. Our study aims to implement a biomarker-based classification model suitable for the clinical management of psychotic patients. A machine learning algorithm was used to classify a cohort of 362 subjects, including 160 first-episode psychosis patients (FEP), 70 patients affected by chronic psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder) with psychosis (CRO) and 132 health controls (HC), based on mRNA transcript levels of 56 immune genes.